Hi folks,
I'm new here and there is no better way to introduce myself than to do an in build story, with some pictures to illustrate build proces.

Its time to build Soko J-22 Orao kit for my collection, so, i took the kit and camera and start modeling and shooting, here is the Orao 1/72 scale resin kit build photo story,

Box Art,



Box contents, what you get , resin kit parts, decals,vacformed canopy (two) canopy frame masks, 4 page A4 build instructions,multimedia CD rom with 1000+ Soko Orao pics, drawings, schemes and relevant documentation.



Fuselage sides sanded, just to gain proper alignment,




I do some accuracy checks, using drawings made by VTI (Aviation Technical Institute-Belgrade , Orao project construction burreau) .

Few hours of cleaning and sanding and all the parts are ready for assembly,











Lead weight superglued, just to be safe not building an tailseater,

I chose this Orao scheme, serialed 25207, with heavily weared paint scheme, "Pepsi" style Yugoslav markings, prior the plane is overhauled and repainted in new, black&white display "Penguin" scheme (see my avatar).
Standard, Medium Gray/Green/Light blue scheme is patched with darker green and dark Gray on topsides and brown patches on undersides, giving the unusual look of this ORAO jet.

Few views of chosen scheme,













(photo credits, various internet sources)

More to follow, tomorrow,

very unusual build!

what is the background on this aircraft?

Its a cheap interpretation of British Jaguar, built in Yugoslavia and Romania, in early 1970s, more info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soko_J-22_Orao

Hi Nenad

This is going to be a really interesting build! Apart from the Jaguar, there's a definite hint of a Gnat in there... It's such an unusual subject for most of us, and in the hands of an expert on the subject this should be a real treat.

All the best

Rowan

Thanx for the comments,

Another 3 hours of work, total 6 hrs, rescribing lost panel lines, some gaps filled and polished, superglue used as filler, temporary assembly for photographing and checking over the scale drawings,

Main Orao airframe assembled, and sprayed with coat of gray paint, to show all the mistakes and errors, which could be solved later,
















Decal sets overview, first, white 101, from discontinued first batch of some 30 Orao kits.
Second, Pepsi style Yugoslav AF markings for 4+ Orao planes, packed with current Orao kit.
Third, Lift Here extra set for IAR 93 Vultur & two J-22 Orao kits, will be available with new, retooled Orao kit, in limited edition.

Hi again Nenad

That is very neat indeed! It's a classic "If it looks right, it'll fly well" airframe.

All the best

Rowan

Todays small update, kit is polished, rescribed some panel lines and primed with car bumpers plastic primer, great paint, strong, good adhesion to resin, easy to polishing and even fine scribing.
Its now ready for paintwork and detailing.







Kenda Kar spray, plastic primer for car bumpers, recomended.

This weekend update, again polished whole airframe, glued ventral fins, underwing pylons, pitot tube( steel wire 0,5mm), wing aerodynamic fences,
and painted cockpit , ejection seat and wheels.





Some work in cockpit, instro panel ( decal ), seat belts and details added, acetate foil head up display glued, thin wire canopy defrosting tube glued.









Acetate cockpit canopy, two included, and die cut self adhesive canopy frames (two), cut and trim canopy frame with ease.



Canopy frame cutting guiding lines are not visible on photo, and i do some drawings in Corel, to show where i cut the canopy.



Canopy was positioned and secured with few masking film stripes, and glued with two component epoxy glue.





To be continued,

Hi Nenad

Great progress. Can you explain this stage in more detail? I've never seen anything like it and I'm really intrigued.

All the best

Rowan

Thx Rowan,

Have no better photos, but here you can see lines on the vacformed parts, where canopy should be trimmed, for perfect fit on fuselage.



Using sharp scissors, this should be no problem for medium experienced modeler.

Hi again Nenad

How did you apply the fine yellow lines? Are they printed on a single piece of film? Please do take some pics of how you do it on your next project - it's a technique I've never come across before.

All the best

Rowan

hey Rowan

don't play stupid .. ever come across Corel Draw? or other graphics tools (I use Gimp) .. what was you job again?

cheers

Steffen
P.S. maybe I was not clear enough: Nenad opend the photo in his favorite graphics programme on his computer and added the yellow lines to the picture to show where to cut the plastic, because the lines were hardly visible on the photo ...

Thanx Stephen, just as you say, it was drawn over the photo, to show the guide lines ,not over the clear canopy.
Real, engraved lines are not visible because canopy is translucent under the flash.
Oh, i wish there is a easy way to draw on PC and transfer the panel lines on the model.
Ok,Ok,there is a stereolitography, and other modern techniques, but not usable for smal series or single projects.

Thanks Steffen and Nenad

I wasn't playing stupid - I was obviously being dumb for real! Sometimes something is so obvious, you just can't see it. I thought they were real lines somehow applied to the canopy as a cutting guide! Now that would be clever!

Pheww! Now I can relax from thinking "How did Nenad do that!?!"

All the best

Rowan

Today's progress report,

Cool Frame, self adhesive canopy frame applied.











And sealed with gloss clear varnish.



Canopy is masked and ORAO goes to paintshop...



I chose nearest shade of paint, according to my paint chip documentation, photos and real Orao plane paint samples.

Note, due the flash and still wet coat of gloss varnish, model photos does not represent real colours.











I use next paints for this, faded Orao plane,

Original Faded Gray, FS 36118, Revell 57 RAL 7000 with a drop of black.

Original Faded Green FS 34079, Revell 363 RAL 6020

Original Light Blue Gray undersides, , mix Hu-124 i HU 157 with a bit of white.

Dark Green, fresh paint patches, Revell 48 RAL 6028

Dark Gray ,fresh paint patches , Revell 79 RAL 7031

Todays update, just one hour of work, red exhaust cowling airbrushed, black dielectric panels on vertical tail and under the nose painted, canopy frames painted, white ADF antena painted, pitot tube painted and whole airframe oversprayed with highly diluted white paint, to give faded paint effect and later, sprayed with Pronto (Future) coat, to prepare surface for decaling, later tonoght.

Hi Nenad

It's certainly coming together! I'm looking forward to seeing it with the decals on.

One question - with the self adhesive canopy frames (they do look very neat), can't one paint them in the camouflage colours prior to applying them? It might be easier.

All the best

Rowan

Finito!

Just single photo, fresh airbrushed with mat cote, till dries will set up photo equipment for better photos.

Finished, not more than 25 hrs of work,

Hi Nenad

Very neat! Thanks for sharing the build of what is both an unusual kit and an unusual subject with us. I really look forward to seeing more of your work.

All the best

Rowan